On my recent 8600-kilometer journey to Nordkapp, I relied on the Garmin Tread GPS for navigation on my Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled. With a route that took me through diverse terrains and multiple countries, including Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Denmark, the GPS had plenty of opportunities to prove its worth. Here’s an honest review based on my experience.
Setup and Profiles
One of the most critical aspects of using the Garmin Tread GPS is setting up the profiles correctly. I quickly learned that the trip calculations heavily depend on this setup. If the profiles are not configured accurately according to your vehicle type and the kind of routes you prefer, you might find the GPS leading you astray. Once I had the profiles properly set, the route calculations improved, but it’s a step that requires careful attention to detail.
Usability
When it comes to usability, the Garmin Tread GPS is a bit of a mixed bag. The interface isn’t as intuitive as I would have liked, making it sometimes challenging to navigate through the menus and settings. This could be frustrating, especially when you’re on the go and need to make quick adjustments. However, there’s a significant upside: the GPS is designed to be used with gloves, which is a huge plus for motorcyclists. Being able to operate the device without needing to remove my gloves made a big difference in convenience.
Orientation and Display
One of the standout features of the Garmin Tread GPS is its ability to be oriented both horizontally and vertically, depending on your preference and the type of riding you’re doing. This feature was particularly useful for me when off-roading, where a vertical display sometimes provided a better view of the route ahead. The display itself is clear and easy to read, even in bright sunlight, which is essential for long rides.
Performance on the Road
While the Garmin Tread GPS performs well in many aspects, it’s not a complete substitute for Google Maps, especially if your trip is primarily on paved roads. One of the main issues I encountered was that the maps seemed outdated in certain areas. This was particularly noticeable in Sweden, Norway, and Germany, where I found several roads that the GPS suggested were either unusable or didn’t exist at all. In contrast, the maps in Denmark appeared to be more up-to-date and accurate.
For off-road adventures and routes that aren’t heavily trafficked, the Garmin Tread does a decent job, but for regular street navigation, it fell short of expectations compared to Google Maps. This is something to keep in mind if your journey involves a lot of highway or city driving.
App Performance and Synchronization Issues
Another significant issue I encountered was with the Garmin Tread app. Even on a high-end device like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the app frequently crashed, making it unreliable for route planning on the go. Additionally, I found that pre-made tracks created within the app did not always synchronize properly with the GPS device. This forced me to recreate the tracks directly on the GPS, which was time-consuming and frustrating, especially during a long trip.
On a more positive note, pre-made GPX tracks, such as the Trans Euro Trail (TET), worked well. These tracks loaded smoothly onto the device and were a great help during the off-road sections of my journey.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Garmin Tread GPS has both strengths and weaknesses depending on how you plan to use it. For off-road enthusiasts and adventure riders, the ability to use the GPS with gloves, combined with its flexible orientation options, makes it a valuable tool. However, for those who rely heavily on street navigation, the outdated maps in some regions can be a significant drawback.
The issues with the app, including frequent crashes and synchronization problems, are disappointing, especially considering the high expectations I had for such a well-regarded brand. While pre-made GPX tracks like the TET worked well, the overall experience was marred by the app's instability.
If you’re planning a trip that includes a mix of off-road and on-road riding, the Garmin Tread GPS could be a good choice—provided you take the time to set up your profiles correctly, are prepared for some potential frustrations with usability, app performance, and map accuracy. While it didn’t entirely meet my needs for street navigation, it still offered some useful features that I appreciated on my long-distance trip.